Frncepost and bracing means therefor



y 1,628, M 17 1927 A. w. ANDREWS 645 BNCIPQST AND BRACING MEANS THEREFORFiled July 20. 1925 2 Sheets-Shut 1 1,628 5 M 17 1927' A. w. ANDREWS 64FENCEPOST AND BRACING MEANS THEREFOR Filed July 20. 1925 2 Sheen-Sheet 2Patented May 17, 1927.

UNITED STATES ALDEN W. ANDREWS, 0F LINCOLN, NEBRASKA.

FENCEPOST AND' BRNACIITGA MEANS THEREFOR.

Application iled` July 20, 1925.

My invention relates to as fence post and bracing means therefor-` Oneof the fundamental objects of the invention is to provide a fence postand brad ing means therefor which will bepractically universal in itsadaptability to the numerous situations and requirements encountered inthe erecting ofl Wire fencing.

A further object of the invention is to provide a desi n of fence postand bracing` means there or which will have thischaracteristic of Wideadaptability and which can be constructed of materials having' maximumdurability, suchas reinforced concrete or iron.

The value of this general adaptability of the present fence post andbracing. means therefor is particularly illustrated in the case ofrailroad work, for fencing off; a section of track or the right-of-wafy.The situations and requirements encountered in this type of fencing areso numerous as to make it impracticabl'e or impossible to employspecially designed pre-formed parts for each of these situations. lForexam le, ini bracing the cor ner post of a fence t e angle of the cornerwill in some instances be a right angle and in other cases` it may be anobtuse angle or an acute angle of practically any degree.`

Another situation often encountered is the necessity of hanging a gatein the line of fencing, the postsiofwhich gate shouldy be bracet againstthe Weight of the gate a'nd the tension of the fence wire. Also, in someinstances, it may be `desirable tobrace a long line of fencing by a linepost braced in one or both directions. Added to these numeroussituations is the problem of erecting such posts` and bracing means 0nuneven ground'.`

By the practice of my invention, asI shall hereinafter describe thesame, I provide a fence post and bracin lmeans therefor which isuniversally adapta le for meeting all of these situations. This fencepost and the associated bracing means comprises a small number ofpre-formed standard parts, construct-ed of concrete, iron or any otherma.- teriahwvhich parts can be erectedin the field with the greatestease and facility.

Other objects will be apparent from the following description of apreferredrembodiment of my invention. In thedraavings i1- lustra'tingthis embodiment:

Figure l is a side elevational view of the main fence post comprisingpart of my invention.

Serial No. 44,694.

Figures 2, 3 and el. are sectional views of this main post taken on theplanes of lines 2 2, 3 3 and 4 4 respectively ofFi'gui-e l.

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the diagonal brace or strut whichco-operaftes with the above post.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary elevational View of a slightly modified formof brace.

Figures 6, t, and are detailed views of this brace taken onrthe planesof lines 6.6, 7-7 a'nd 8-8 of Figure 5.

Figure 9 is an elevational view of a line post and its associated collarwhich cooperate With the above brace or strut.

Figure 10 illustrates the arrangement of the above mentioned parts forbracing the corner of a fence.

Figure 11 is a plan view illustrating the adaptability of these parts toright angle, oblique angle and acute angle corners.

Figure 1:2 illustrates the adaptability of the present invention to thebracing ofgates and gate posts.

Figure 134 shows the invention applied to the line bracing of a fence,and

Figure 14' illustrates the adaptability ofthe system to erection onuneven ground.

Referring first to the construction of the preferred form of post 20illustrated in Figures l to et, it will be noted that this post isconstructed of reinforced concrete having a plurality of reinforcingrods 2l extending longitudinally therethrough. This post and the otherelements of the invention can be constructed of ironor any othermaterial, but as illustrative of what I consider the preferred practiceI have shown the same all constructed of concrete. Also embodied in thismain post 2O in the nature of added reinforcement 22 is the Wirescreening or strands of Wire placed around the reinforcing` rods 21.

The lower portion of the post which sets in the ground` is preferably ofheavy rectangular cross section, and preferably has` its corners beveledas indicated at 23. Atits upper end the inner corner of the post isbeveledv off to a greater depth, as indicated at 24, to reduce theweight of the post.

The intermediate portion of this main post is recessed on two sides asindicated at 26 in Figures l and 3, for the purpose of forming anabutment shoulder, and also for forming bearing` or pressure surfacesfor the brace or braces which reinforce the post. The abutment` shoulderis indicated at 27,

(l il it being evident that this shoulder will form a ledge or stop tohold the upper end of the brace at the proper height along` the post.The bearing or pressure surfaces against which the braces exert theirbracing pressure are of circular form, preferably consisting of circularribs or lobes extending longitudinally of the recesses 26. These tworibs or pressure surfaces 28 face outwardly at an angle of from eachother to receive the two co-operating braces which are employed when thepost is utilized as a corner post. As shown in Figur-e 3 these two ribsor bearing surfaces have circular contours of 18()o or more, so as tomaintain an eliective area of pressure Contact with the bracesirrespective of the angular positions of the latter around the post.

This recessed area and the associated ribs or pressure surface 28 may beextended over a considerable length of the post, as for example down toa point adjacent to the ground level, as shown in Figure l. This permitsany associated brace to slip down along the post and to take hold at anypoint along the rib 28 considerably below the shoulder 27. It alsopermits a brace being engaged against the lower shoulder at the bottomof this recessed portion for bracing the lower portion of the main post,it' such is desired.

It will be observed that the reinforcing materials 21 and 22 are offsetfrom the axial center line of the post (Figure 2) so as to pass upapproximately through the center of the ribbed or fluted area (FigureDiagonal holes 31 may be formed through this ribbed or fluted area topass out at vertically spaced intervals to the outer corner of the postfor receiving tie wires or any other fastening connections forfast-ening the fence wire to the post.

Referring now to the construction of the brace 32, it will be observedfrom Figures 5 to 8 that this brace is of reinforced concrete and ispreferably of rectangular cross section with its edges beveled oft asindicated at 33 in Figure 7.

Reinforcing rods 34 having wire mesh or wire strands 35 around the samemay be eX- tended through the brace. The ends of the brace are pointed,as viewed in side elevation in Figure 5, thereby forming sloped endsurfaces 37 and 38. The end surface 37 at each end of the brace hasformed therein a longitudinal groove 39 of the proper size and curvatureto engage over one of the longitudinal ribs or pressure surfaces 28 ot'the main supporting post 20. The end surfaces 37 and their associatedgrooves 39 are located at opposite sides of the brace with respect ltothe ends of the brace. as clearly shown in Figure 5. Transverse holesLll may be provided in the ends of this brace for receiving fasteningwires or other means for securing the ends of the hrm-.e to the mainpost. and to the line post or other anchoring means.

''o provide a point of anchm'age for the other end of the brace 32 ,ilprefer to utilim` a line post 43, although other anchoring means may beemployed if desired. The post illustrated in Figure 9 is representative.o such line post, and associated with this line post is a collar flawhich forms an abutment shoulder 45 for the lower end of the brace. Thecollar may be slipped down over the line post, or if desired, may bemade as an integral part thereof particularly where both are formed ofconcrete. ln the preferred embodiment the post 43 and collar il areformed as separate concrete units, the post being tapered to bind thecollar thereon at certain preferred height for the collar. Thecylindrical cross section of the line post Ki3 adjacent to the top ofthe collar 4H; is ol approximately the same diameter as the circularbearing surfaces 2S-28 of the main post 20. Thus the grooves 39 in theopposite ends of the brace 32 may be formed of the same diameter and theends of the brace used interchangeably for engagement with the main post20 or with the line post lil.

In erecting the post 20 and the bracing means therefor, holes are dug atthe proper spacing for the main post 20 and the line post 43. rlheseposts are then set in their respective holes and the brace is thereuponset in the inclined position indicated in F igurc l0,with thecylindrical grooves 3) engaging the bearing surface 28 and thecylindrical contour of the line post The post 43 can be shifted back andforth in its respective hole until the end surfaces 38 at the oppositeends of the brace are in firm contact with the shoulders 27 and 45 ofthe two posts. With the brace anchored in this position it will beobvious that the tension of the fence wires is all carried as acompression stress in the diagonal strut or brace 32. During the settingof these posts, or after the setting has been established, the ends ofthe brace may be wired to the posts 2O and fle-3 by binding wires 47passed through the holes ffl-l in the ends of the brace and twistedaround the posts 2t) and i3 respectively. These wires are not essential,as the brace is locked in position between the two posts by theengagement of its grooved ends over the cylindrical contours of thepressure surfaces on both posts; but auch wires mav be of assistance inpreventingl disengagement of the brace when there is no wire thin sionon the main post 20. The lower end ol the brace 32 has its point ofanchoring attachment to the line post below the ,Qrbund level,preferably at a depth of about G inches below the surface.

The full-line illustration of Figure ll shows the braces arranged for aright angle Sil ilu

lou

weeen ai corner. of this same ligure shows the engagement of the braceswith the corner post 2() for an acirte'anlgle corner; and the dottedline illustration shows the engagement of these braces` for an obliqueangle corner. Attention `is directed to thel fact that in al1 of thesepo'tions of the braces 32, a substantially urn-form areaL of pressuresurface is maintained between the grooved ends of the braces` and: thecylfndfical` contours of the ribs 28. Similarly, for different verticalinclinations of the brace 32, a substantially uniform area of pressuresurface is maintained between the end surface 38 of the brace and theshoulders 27 and 45 of the posts 20 and 43. In this connection, I alsocontemplate roundin the end surface 38, as indicated at 38 in Figure 5a.This rounded end surface will maintain a uniform area of bearing surfacethrough all vertical inclinations of the brace, such as ariseparticularly from erecting the fencing on uneven ground.

Attention is directed to the fact that the curved pressure surfaces 28on the main post are located close to the outer sides of the postwhereby the line of bracing support afforded by the brace or braces 32is brought into close proximity to the plane of the fence wires at anyangle of corner of the fence, to the end of eliminating torsion on thepost from the tension of the fence wire.

Figure 12 illustrates the use of the main post 20, brace 32 and linepost 43 for defining the sides of a gate opening in a line of fencing.The gate post on which the gate is hung is amply reinforced against thetension of the fence wires by its brace 32 and is also reinforcedagainst the weight of the gate by this brace. In order that the post 2()may be readily adaptable to this use as a gate supportinor post it isalso provided with holes 49 extending transversely therethrough forreceiving bolts or eyes 5l which support the gate 52. The post at theopposite side of the gate opening is, of course, amply braced againstthe tension of its fence wires by the brace or strut 32.

Figure 13 illust 'ates another application of the invention in the formof a line of fencing braced against tension in one orboth directions. Inthis adaptation the several fence wires 53 are fastened to a centralline post 43-any suitable anchoring means being embodied in these lineposts for fastening the fence wires thereto. This central line post islaterally braced in one or both directions by the brace or braces 32which extend down into anchoring engagement with a lateral post or posts43. The grooved upper ends of the braces embrace the circular sides ofthe centralpost 43 and' are preferably wired to these posts by a bindingwire 54 passed through the openings 4l and around the central post.

The dash and dot line illustration The adaptability of the combinationto the erection of fence on uneven ground is illustrated in Figure let.Irrespective of whether the line post 43` is higher or lower than themainpst 2O the grooved ends of the brace 32 maintain an effective areaor bracing contact with the two posts, and the other sloped surfaces 38"at the ends of the brace remain in firm pressure engagement with theshoulders 27 and 45. j j i Although in the drawings and in the abovedescription, I have confined myself to what I consider the preferredembodiment of this invention, it is to be understood that variousmodifications are contemplated and the invention should, therefore, belimited nierely by the scope of the appended claims. For example,instead of having the pressure or bearing surface 28 of convex curvatureand the bearing surface 39 of concave curvature this relation might bereversed, i. e., the bearing surface 39 could be formed of convexcurvature for fitting into a bearing surface 28 of concave curvature.The invention is, of course, applicable to farm use, highway use, etc.,and to the support of any style of fencing.

Having now described my invention, what I consider as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A fence post including a longitudinal recess extending a portion ofthe length of the post, two arcuate surfaces extending lengthwise ofsaid recess, and a shoulder adjacent each end of ,said surfaces, eachshoulder presenting an uninterrupted contact surface extending acrossboth of said arcuate surfaces, said shoulders and arcuate Surfaces beingadapted to receive the thrust of compression members extending at anyangle from said post.

2. A fence post including an enlarged base portion, an enlarged upperend, two arcuate ribs extending between said enlarged portions, saidribs projectii'ig at right angles, a shoulder extending across the upperends of said ribs, and a second shoulder extending across the lower endsof said ribs, said shoulders being inclined and being adapted tocooperate with said ribs to help lock in position and receive the thrustof a compression member extending at any angle from said post.

3. A fence post including a longitudinal recess extending a portion ofthe length thereof, an arcuate surface extending lengthwise of saidrecess, a shoulder adjacent each end of said recess. said shoulders andrecess being adapted to help lock in place and receive the thrust from adiagonal brace extending from said post at any one of a plurality ofangles.

4. A concrete fence post comprising a portion of reduced cross section,an enlarged portion adjacent an end thereof, arcuate suraces extendinglengthwise of said reduced portion, and a shoulder formed by saidenlarged portion and presenting an uninterrupted contact surfaceextending across said arcuate surfaces, said shoulder and surfaces beingadapted to receive the thrust of one or incre. diagonal braces extendingfrom said post in various angular relationships.

5. In combination, a fence post having a longitudinal recess extending aportion of the Alength thereof, an arcuate surface extending lengthwiseof said recess, a shoulder adjacent each end ol' said recess, and adiagonal brace having an end formed to cooperate with one of saidshoulders and said arcuate surface when said brace is placed in any oneof a plurality of angular positions with respect to said post.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe iny naine this 13th day ofJuly, 1925.

ADEN lV. ANDREWS.

